Obasanjo endorses new military thriller, ‘76

Obasanjo endorses new military thriller, ‘76

Tuesday, August 23, 2016 5:32 pm


OBJ with the '76 team2

OBJ with the ’76 team2

Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has endorsed the new film ’76, a military thriller which depicts events that took place when he was military Head of State in 1976 following the assassination of his predecessor, Gen. Murtala Mohammed during a botched coup.

At a private screening for the former president at his Presidential Library in Abeokuta, Ogun State, he joined other critical stakeholders like the Nigerian Army to support the innovative flick.

Obasanjo, who patted the back of the Adonis Production team, led by Co-Executive Producer, Tonye Princewill, also described the film as “a mixture of sweet and sorrow”.

“It will make us remind ourselves not to go back to the dark days, which put us in go-no-go situation. We might not yet have lived up to our best, but we have lived through our worst,” Obasanjo said.

He added: “We can have more of this, as there are more national issues that can be portrayed. We are capable of the best and that is what this film has shown.”

Prince Tonye Princewill, the Co-Executive Producer of the film, who led a delegation of the cast and crew including Rita Dominic, Izu Ojukwu and Chidi Mokeme, told the former Nigerian leader that the cast and crew of ‘76 were on tour of the country to seek support and stakeholder endorsement for the film, billed to premiere in cinemas in November.

“The youths of today need to have a sense of the past, we have no sense of history, hence the resolve to have the film ’76,” Princewill said.

He noted that the visit to Obasanjo was important, considering his position at that time in the country.

“He was there in the front row. We deemed it wise to come and show him the film and curry his esteemed endorsement, which as you can see we have just got,” he added.

Hours after the former President gave his nod, the landmark cinematic production hit another milestone by being one of the select Nigerian movies chosen to have its own world premiere at this year’s edition of the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).

The film has also received scheduled dates for the London International Film Festival and the Dubai International Film Festival among others in circuit of international release.

The film will have its specially laid-out red carpet premiere at the Isabel Bader Theatre in Toronto, Canada. The event promises to be a truly unique and momentous occasion.

All the key cast, crew and many special guests are all committed to walking the red carpet and this has been made possible by its Canadian media partners.

The Toronto International Film Festival is one of the most recognized film festivals in the world and a very important partner in facilitating the rise of emerging Oscar contenders. As a key precursor in the awards race, all eyes will be on TIFF’s full line up, which often hosts high-profile premieres of Oscar-bound movies.


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